Improvement in gas-retorts



GEORGE W. HARRIs, 0E ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-RETORTS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 112,593, dated March 14, 1871.

i SPECIFICATION.

I, GEORGE W. HARRIS, of Elizabeth, State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improve'- ments in Gas-Retorts, of which the following is a specification: 4

f posing superheated steam in connection with `heated carbonfin what is commonly known as the hydrocarbon process, said patent being dated November 5, 1865. i

i Figure 1 is a front view of asetting or bench of three of my improved. double retorts, the upper retort being a cross-section, showing the division a, and the perforations b b b also, the

lower chamber `with the false bottom of tile c, with steam-passages d d and small outlets e e.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the double retort, showing clearly the division or septum a and perforations b b, Sto.; also, the false bot. tom or tile in the lowerchamber, steam-passage d, and outlets e e, 8vo., the .steam-pipe f,

f the `mouth-piece g, and socket for stand-pipe h.

The peculiarity in this retort is in combining` the hydrogen and bituminous retorts into one retort, thereby dispensing with the connectingpipes and stop-cocks, such as are particularly claimed in the patent granted to Geo. `W.

Harris, the presentA petitioner, and Henry Holdrege, September 7, 1869, No. 94,596, and instead thereof, perforating the division betweenthe upper andilower chamber of the retort with a number of holes, about one-half inch in diameter, more or less, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the gases produced by the decomposition of steam in the lower chami ber will pass `directlyiup through said holes i and come into `immediate contact `with the gases arising from the bituminous coal in the upper chamber, or such other carbonaceous materialas may be used. v y

In the practical working of the combined retort a false bottom, c, of tile, formed with passages d d, and a number of small outlets,`

e e, which are secured by the patents mentioned above, is inserted into the lower chamber, and the remainder of the space lled with anthracite coal, coke, or other suitable material. Highly superheated steam is then introduced into -thesaid passages by means of pipe f, and up through jets e e, &c., and the heated contents of said chamber, and become decomposed, forming hydrogen and carbonicoxide gases. These gases pass up through the holes b b b, Sto., in the division between the chambers, into the upper chamber, which has been charged with bituminous coal or other suitable material in the usual manner,

the said gases combining with the gases aris' ing from said coal, and absorbing a great portion of the rich carbons usually condensed into tar, thereby adding a large increase to the quantity and quality of gas produced from said coal or other material. y

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. I claim a retort made of lire-clay or other suitable material, the form of which is produced by the combination of two retorts into one doubleretort, consisting of' an upper and lower chamber, each of suitable size, the division or partition between said chambers being perforated with a number of holes about onev 

